September 4, 1964 ― December 22, 2012
MEMORIAL WEEKEND
Celebration of Christopher’s Life
SAT FEB 2 | San Francisco
Healing & Release Ceremony
SUN FEB 3 | Berkeley
With a heavy and grief-stricken heart, we bring you the sad news of the passing of our dear and beloved friend, Christopher Lee, who transitioned into the spirit world on December 22, 2012.
Christopher Lee, also known as Christoph among his peers of 19+ years in the recovery community, touched many individuals and communities during his lifetime. He is survived by his biological family, father Curtis Lee, mother Helen Lee Rios, uncle Charles Thorne, sisters Sabrina Lim, Roberta Lee, Melinda Tolmie, and Lori VanSteenberge. Christopher is also survived by two loving families, the Scott-Chung family of Oakland, CA, by MeiBeck (Chino) and Maya Scott-Chung, their daughter Luna and MeiBeck’s (Chino’s) mother Teresa Chung; and the Hadley Carranza family, by Jae Carranza/J Zapata, Cosmo Joseph Hadley Carranza and Lisa Marie Hadley ― all of whom loved and embraced Christopher as part of their own family. And finally, he is survived by his boyfriend, Spencer F.
Born under the lunar new year of the Dragon, Christopher was a powerful and fierce two-spirit being, a force to be reckoned with. A leading activist of the SF Bay Area Transgender community, he served as the world’s first FTM (female-to-male) Grand Marshal of San Francisco’s 2002 LGBT Pride Parade. An award-winning filmmaker, Christopher also co-founded “Tranny Fest,” the first transgender cultural festival in the world. Stronger than ever today, “Tranny Fest,” now called the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, serves as a powerful testament to his living legacy.
An artist, a trailblazer, a mentor, a dear friend and brother, he left an indelible mark on everyone he came across. Christopher, you will be truly missed by many.
In a wonderful display of unconditional support and an outpouring of love, many of us have come together to organize a memorial weekend that will celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Christopher Lee. On Saturday, February 2nd, we will hold a celebratory gathering at El Rio. This will be followed by a Healing & Release Ceremony on Sunday, February 3rd at the Center for Transformative Change in Berkeley.
Please join us for this memorial weekend as we honor, celebrate and send Christopher off in a loving and powerful way.
CELEBRATION OF CHRISTOPHER’S LIFE
SATURDAY February 2, 2013 | 1p – 3pm | The El Rio, San Francisco, CA
This community celebration and honoring of Christopher’s life will be a place for all who knew him and all who have been touched by his life and work. El Rio is generously closing to the public for this private event, but please feel free to invite any and all who wish to recognize Christopher and his amazing contributions to our community. There will be an opportunity for everyone who wants to speak, sing, dance, recite or simply be silent in this space.
Please feel free to bring copies of photos and writings to share on our community board.
Note: We recognize that El Rio serves alcohol and that Christopher was an integral part of the recovery community. Everyone is welcome to attend both events, and the Sunday event will be alcohol free
The El Rio | Food Served, and Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Drinks Available
3158 Mission St at Cesar Chavez; San Francisco, CA 94110
Map: http://bit.ly/XfJjOw
HEALING & RELEASE CEREMONY
SUNDAY February 3, 2013 | 3 – 6pm | The Center for Transformative Change, Berkeley, CA
Based on Lakota and Buddhist traditions, this gathering will be primarily ritual in nature. It will include an outdoor fire ceremony and group smudging to release negative emotions past and present, and to bring in love and light. Folks will have an opportunity to speak during the healing circle, and offer items to the community altar. Finally, after mustering up all the love and good vibes, we will invite the Two-Spirit Drum to send Christopher off in this sacred way.
Please bring copies of photos, writings and objects to share for our community board and altar. Afterwards, you are invited to join us as we dine at one of Christopher’s favorite restaurants.
The Center for Transformative Change | Non-Alcoholic Beverages & Light Refreshments Provided
2584 Martin Luther King Junior Way at Parker, Berkeley, CA 94704
Map: http://bit.ly/13GcuOf
POSTERBOARD SUBMISSIONS | DEADLINE FRI JAN 25th
Please submit your donated photos, writings, etc., for the community posterboard to Spencer at: , 2526 Holly View Dr., Martinez, CA. 94553
SEEKING $ DONATIONS
For those of you who would like to support Christopher’s Memorial expenses, please consider making a donation here. The El Rio gathering has been generously donated; however, there are other outstanding costs that would benefit from your support. Additional funds are also being raised to handle other financial needs related to his passing.
Your support no matter how large or small is deeply appreciated.
http://www.gofundme.com/The-Christopher-Lee-Fund
For updates and more information: http://www.facebook.com/ChristopherLeeMemorial
